CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The movie Flashdance is 43 years old. It had several songs that became radio hits. No one in high school today ever saw the movie in theaters or heard those songs.
There is a musical theater version of Flashdance that toured the US and the UK. But it was never popular enough to be staged on Broadway.
Now the drama department at Watertown High School wants to perform Flashdance The Musical. They submitted the play to school’s musical director and the high school principal; both approved it. But now the interim school superintendent has said ‘no’.
Watertown schools have been down this road before. Last year the school’s orchestra director wanted to present an LGBTQ-inspired musical piece. It was canceled by the school board.
I see that situation as different. If it wasn’t “revealed” by the maestro, no one would have known what the musical piece was about. He chose that music with an agenda. School leaders objected.
There’s no hidden agenda behind Flashdance. The story, and what it’s about, is known to everyone. The main character, a woman named Alex, dreams of being a ballerina. She works in a steel mill by day, and dances in a club at night. Her type of dancing is not what classical ballet schools are looking for.
In Flashdance there is no sex and no nudity. Alex’s boyfriend stands by her as she pursues her dreams.
There is one scene where Alex is doused with water at the end of one of her club dances. It is provocative, but, in my opinion, not over the line. If Flashdance is unacceptable, what’s next? What if someone objects to the way the cheerleaders or the dance team is dressed? Are the volleyball team or swim team uniforms too tight? To me, it’s a slippery slope.
The proper procedures were followed for Flashdance. I understand that an interim superintendent wants to avoid controversy… but this shouldn’t be controversial.
Chris Conley
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